Strand-guiding and operationterminating device



Feb. 5, 1963 E. c. HARDESTY 3,

STRAND-CUIDING AND OPERATION-TERMINATING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR E. C. HARDESTY HQ Q3 92 NE m BN1 A TTORNEV Feb. 5, 1963 E. c. HARDESTY 3,076,227

STRAND-GUIDING AND OPERATION-TERMINATING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR E. C. l-MRDESTV FIG. 3 A TTORNEY Feb. 5, 1963 E. c. HARDESTY 7 STRAND-GUIDING AND OPERATION-TERMINATING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR E. C. HA RDESTY A T TORNE Y United States York Filed July 25, 1960, Ser. No. 44,914

Claims. (Cl. 1819} The invention relates generally to strand-guiding and operation-terminating devices for use on strand-handling apparatus and more particularly to a strand-guiding and operation-terminating device for use in apparatus for coiling strand material, such as plastic or rubber-jacketed cordage into a helix on a rotating mandrel to form a spring cord.

In the telephone field and in the field of various electrical appliances, it has been the practice in certain applications to utilize spring or retractile cords, a common example of which is the cord extending between the base and the headpiece of a telephone handset. The spring cords are formed so that a major portion thereof is in the form of a compact helical coil, which will extend when slight tension is applied thereto but will return to a compactly coiled configuration when the tension is removed from the cord.

In the manufacture of spring cords, straight lengths of plastic or elastomeric-jacketed cordage such as that disclosed in Patent 3,037,068, issued on May 29, 1962 to H L. Wessel, and issued as U.S. Patent No. 3,037,068, are wound helically upon a rotating and axially moving mandrel. In the design of automatic machines for accomplishing the helical Winding operation, it has been found desirable to provide means for tensioning the cordage, means for holding the cordage in contact with the coiling mandrel, means for guiding the cordage into close, even convolutions on the mandrel, and means for terminating the helix-winding operation at a point where an irregular portion of the cordage (for example, a stay band or grommet) is positioned at a desired distance from the mandrel. Apparatus of this type is disclosed and claimed in Patent 3,024,497, issued on March 13, 1962 to E. C. Hardesty and D. L. Myers.

An object of the present invention is to provide new and improved strand-guiding and operation-terminating devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved strand-guiding and operation-terminating devices for use in apparatus for coiling strand material, such as plastic or rubber-jacketed cordage into a helix on a rotating mandrel to form a spring cord.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved devices for guiding and tensioning a tipped and banded length of cordage being wound upon a rotating coiling mandrel, detecting an irregular portion of the cordage adjacent to the trailing end of the cordage formed by a band, S-hook or grommet, and for interrupting the coiling operation as the trailing end of the cordage approaches the mandrel.

A strand-guiding and operation-terminating device for guiding successive portions of an indefinite length of strand material, detecting an irregular portion of the strand material, and interrupting a strand-handling operation, embodying certain aspects of the present invention, may include a frame, a first guide mounted on the frame and a second guide mounted movably adjacent to and a predetermined distance from the first guide for relative movement with respect thereto. Means are provided for normally urging the guides toward each other, and a mag net is positioned adjacent to the movable guide. Magnetic material is secured operatively to the movable guide. The magnetic material secured to the movable guide is atent ice positioned normally within the field of the magnet, but outside of the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet a distance sufficiently great so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet are insufiicient to overcome the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the urging means.

The movable guide is moved from the normal position by an irrgular portion of the strand material passing between the guides, which causes the spacing between the magnet and the magnetic material to become sufficiently small so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet overcome the forces exerted on the movable guide by the urging means. The movement of the magnetic material causes a snap action movement of the movable guide as the magnetic material is moved toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet against the action of the urging means. The movement of the magnetic material toward the point of maximum field in-' tensity causes rapid separation of the guides a sufiicient distance to permit the irregular portion of the strand material to move therebetween. Means, actuated in response to a predetermined amount of movement of the magnetic material toward the point of maximum field in tensity of the magnet, are utilized for stopping the strandhandling operation a predetermined time later.

Other objects and features of the present invention may be more readily understood from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a coil-winding apparatus embodying certain principles of the present invention, with portions thereof broken away for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, plan w'ew of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical section of the apparatus of FIG. 2, taken along line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the apparatus of FIG. 3, with certain elements thereof in different operating positions;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical section of the apparatus of FIG. 2, taken along line 55 thereof;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical section of the apparatus of FIG. 1, taken along line 66 thereof;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, vertical section of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2, taken along line 7-7 thereof;

PEG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational View of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 7, and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an electrical control circuit forming a part of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an apparatus for winding strand material into a helix and more particularly, apparatus for winding a predetermined length of jacketed cordage, designated generally by the numeral 12, into helical turns 1111 as a step in the manufacture of spring cords.

The jacketed cordage 12 includes a core composed of a plurality of individually insulated conductors 14 -14, preferably tinsel conductors, positioned parallel to each other and enclosed in a paper tape (not shown). The paper-covered core is then enclosed in a tough elastic jacket 15 made of a material such as polyvinyl chloride. The jacketing material is preferably extruded over the paper-covered core to form a long, straight length of the jacketed cordage 12. Portions of this cordage 12 are then wound into helical form, being cut to length either before or after winding, but preferably before the helix-winding operation. The coiled cordage 12 is thereafter cured by appropriate heat treatment to set the jacketing material in its coiled form.

A portion of the jacket adjacent to each of the ends of the cordage 12 is stripped from the conductors 14-14, a solderless terminal tip 16 is secured to the end of each of'the conductors 14-14, and then a staycord band 17 is crimped about the jacket 15 adjacent to one-extremity thereof and a grommet 18 or stay-cord band 17. is secured tothe cordage 12 adjacent the other end thereof. The stripping, tipping and banding operations may be. performed after the helix-winding operation as was the practice heretofore; however, in accordance. withcertain features of the invention, a predetermined straight' length of the jacketed cordage 12 may be cut andthe ends stripped, tipped and banded previous to coiling in helical form. This latter sequence of operation is preferred, since it is easierto cut, strip, tip and bandrthecordage 12- before coiling than after and such a sequence is more susceptible to mass-production assemblyftechniques.

In.FIGS. 2 and 5, a straightlength of the cordage 12 is shown'partiallyxwound. in helical'turns 11-11 about a' windingmandrel20. A square, notchedfiange 21 is secured1to one end ofthe mandrel 20, which becomes the first wound'or leadend thereof. The lead end of the. mandrel'20 is formedwith a pair. of opposed pins 22-22 projecting radially therefrom, which may be inse'rted withins a pair of L-shaped retaining slots 23-23 formed within aro'tary chuck, generally designated by. the numeral '24. This pin-and-slot connection allows the mandrel to be readilyconnectedto and disconnected :from the chuck24, but provides -a positive connection for rotating. the mandrel 20.

Prior to the-coiling operation, a leading end of the cordage'12 is threaded through a notch 25 inthe flange 21; withsthewstay-cordband 17 contacting the outer surface of the flange. The end of the jacket 15 is bent inwardly toward the chuck 24 and placed under a beveled projecting tab 19 of the chuck 24 andthe individual conductorszl4-l4 p'rotruding from'that end of thecordage 12 are wrapped around. a flanged rectangular block 30, projecting from thechuck 24, and between the tab 19 and end ofv the jacket 15 to prevent flapping thereof during rotation of the mandrel 20. The bent portion of the jacket 15 of the cordage 12 is urged resiliently toward the tab 19 andcooperates therewith to confinethe ends of the conductors 14-14. If the ends of the conductors 14-14 tend to move out from under the tab 19, the conductors 14-14:abut the extreme end of the jacket 15 to prevent such movement.

The chuck 24 is then rotated to draw the remaining portions-of the cordage 12 onto the mandrel 20 and the mandrel 20 and chuck 24 are moved simultaneously, longitudinally, in predetermined synchronism with the speed of rotationof the mandrel 20, to wind the followingcordage'lZ, generally, in a uniform series of closelypacked helicalturns 11-11 along a desired portion of the length'of the. mandrel 20. The longitudinal speed of-the' mandrel 20 should preferably be regulated to approximately one cord-width (as Wound) for each revolution of the mandrel 20 in order to provide, generally, for windinglof the cordage 12 in a closely-packed helix; however, it should be understood that various relative speeds might be employeddepending on the pitchof the turns 111-11 desired.

A cordage-retaining clamp, designated generally by the numeral 26, is mounted on the mandrel 20 for sliding movement therealong during the winding operation. After the winding operation, the clamp 26 is designed to be tightened on the mandrel 20 in abutment with the last-wound helical convolution 11 to retain the trailing end of the cordage on the mandrel. The cordage-retainingclamp 26 consists of an inner knurled wheel 27 fitting loosely about the mandrel 20 and having a notched, cordage-retaining clip 28 extending therefrom. An externally threaded boss 29 projects from the wheel 27 on the side opposite clip 28 and is formed with an internal, conically tapered aperture (not shown) at its extremity. A slit bushing (not shown), made of nylon, polytetrafiuoroethylene or other suitable resilient material, is mounted loosely on the mandrel 20 and is designed for partial reception in the conical aperture in the wheel 27.

An outer knurled wheel 32 is also loosely mounted on the mandrel 20 and has an internally threaded hub 33 facing the boss 29 for threadable reception thereabout. The hub 33 is formed with an inner conically tapered aperture (not shown) designed for partial reception of the bushing. The hub 33 of the outer wheel 32 is normally screwed on the boss 29 of the inner wheel to a point where the bushing is received loosely within the opposing conical apertures. This assembly constitutes the retaining member 26 and is slidable relative to the mandrel 20 during the winding operation. After the winding operation, the retaining member 26 is slid into contact with the last wound turn 11, the free end of the cordage 12 is placed in the notch in the clip 28, and then the outer wheel 32 is further tightened about the boss 29 to compress the bushing into contact with the mandrel 20, thus locking the retaining member 26, as a unit, about the mandrel-20.

A mandrel support, designated generally, by the numeral 34 (FIGS. l and 6), includes a plurality. of stationary mandrel-supporting blocks, designated generally by the numerals 35-35, which are mounted in spaced intervals along the length of the coiling apparatus. The blocks 35-35 are formed with concavemandrel-receiving seats 36-36 and aligned entrance apertures 37-37 extending between the outer surfaces of the blocks 35-35 and the seats 36-36, to permit lateral insertion of the mandrel 20 through the entrance apertures 37-37 into the seats 36-36. The entrance apertures 37-37 are preferably sectorial apertures of about and are aligned so that the mandrel 20 may be inserted into all or" the seats 36-36 of the supporting blocks 35-35 simultaneously. The blocks 35-35are made entirely of, or their seats are lined with, a suitable Wear-resistant material, such as nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene or Rulon so that the seats 36-36 may support the mandrel 20 for both sliding and rotary motion therewithin.

The mandrel support 34 includes a number of clamping blocks 38-38 which are secured to oscillatory arms 41-41 which, in turn, are keyed to a shaft 42. The clamping blocks 38-38 are designed to cooperate with the mandrel-supporting blocks 35-35 to support and guide the mandrel 21) during the helix-winding movement thereof; Each of the clamping blocks 38-38 has an overall configuration similar to the entrance apertures 37-37 ofthe blocks 35-35 and includes a seat 43 which is designed to fit closely about the mandrel 2i) and cooperate with the associated seat 36 to permit rotating and sliding movement of the mandrel 2t) therewithin.

A piston rod 44 of a piston-cylinder assembly, designated generally by the numeral 46, is secured to one of the arms 41-41 to cause oscillatory motion thereof and the remaining arms 41-41 secured to the shaft 42 to move the clamping blocks 38-38 as a group between an-open position and a clamping position. When the clamping blocks 38-38 are in the open position, an operator may easily insert the mandrel 20 into the mandrel support 34 with the major portion of the mandrel being supported across the supporting blocks 35-35 and the lead or left-hand end of the mandrel, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, protrudes from the mandrel support 34.

The piston-cylinder assembly 46 is equipped with a first solenoid'valve 40 (FIG. 9), energizable to induce movement of the clamping blocks 38-38 to their closed positions, and a second solenoid valve 45 (FIG. 9) to induce the reverse movement. A switch actuator 47 is secured to the shaft 42, which is connected to the piston rod 44,

and is designed to close a normally open contact 4? of a limit switch, designated generally by the numeral 48, when the clamping blocks 38-38 are in their closed positions.

As seen in FIG. 1, a limit switch, designated generally by the numeral 51, is mounted above the mandrel support 34. and has a movable actuator member 52 extending into the support 34. The actuator 52; of the switch 51 is biased to a lower position in the absence of a mandrel 2i) and is pressed to an upper position upon insertion of a mandrel 20 in the support 34. The mandrel 2b, in a before-coiling position with a major portion of the length of the mandrel 2t? resting across and within the support 34, is supported by the support 34 for both rotational and longitudinal movement with respect thereto.

The lead end of the mandrel Ztl is then fastened to the rotary chuck 24 and one end of a length of cordage 12 is secured to the mandrel 2t) by the flange 21 and chuck 24, as previously described, to enable the winding of the cordage in a helix on the mandrel. The cordage 12 advances to the mandrel 2th through a helix-forming roller and constraining guide assembly, designated generally by the numeral 53 (FIGS. 2, 7 and 8), for constraining the cordage 12 to wind in closely packed convolutions 11-11 and for forming the Cordage 12 as it is wound into a uniform, tighthelix about the mandrel 2d.

The helix-forming roller and constraining guide assembly 53 includes a freely rotatable roller 56 mounted on a shaft 57 in a bracket so which is operatively connected to a piston rod 59 of a piston-cylinder assembly, designated generally by the numeral 61, for selective movement between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position of the roller 56, the

shaft 57 is spaced a predetermined distance from the mandrel 2t? and is parallel to the mandrel so. that the roller 56 is positioned immediately adjacent to the coiling mandrel 20, onto which Cordage 12 is being wound in a helix, and presses the cordage 12 against the mandrel 20.

In operation, the roller 56 is positioned so that the periphery thereof engages compressively each cordage convolution 11 as the cordage 12 is wound on the man drel 2t? in order to smooth and compress the cordage being wound into a uniform, tight helix about the mandrel N. This is the normal, winding position of the roller 56 and is illustrated in FIG. 7. The roller ss preferably exerts sufficient force on the cordage 12 being wound on the mandrel 2%) to flatten the cordage 12 slightly between the roller 56 and the mandrel 2b, which flattening is desired in the finished spring cord (not shown),

A cordage-constraining guide, designated generally by the numeral 55, includes a guide plate, designated generally by the numeral 553, mounted above the cordage 12 and close to the mandrel 2t) for pivoting movement with respect thereto. The guide plate 58 and a bracket 54 are secured to and depend from one end of a rocker arm 64 which, in turn, is mounted for oscillation with respect to the mandrel 2t about a pivot pin 62. The pin 62 is mounted in the bracket 6% in which the roller se is mounted. The opposite end of the rocker arm 64 is provided with a cam-follower roller 65 which is received slidably in a stationary cam 63. Accordingly, it can be seen that, as the roller 56 is moved from the retracted position to the winding position, the pivotally mounted cordage-constnaining guide 55 forming part of the assembly 53 is cammed into a position to guide the oncoming cordage 12 into uniform, closely formed convo- 1utions11-11 on the rotating mandrel 2%.

Further, a reciprocably movable support 6 5 for the Cordage-retaining clamp 26, having a V-notched supporting surface 67, is connected operatively to a piston rod 68 of a piston-cylinder assembly, designated generally by the numeral 71. The support 66 supports the mandrel 2i and prevents excessive vibrations in the unsupported span of the mandrel 20 between the mandrel support 34 and the chuck 24 and also prevents longitudinal movement of the cordage clamp 26 on the mandrel during rotation thereof. The corresponding ends of the cylinders of the assemblies 46, 61 and 71 are interconnected by conduits (not shown) and connected to the solenoid valves 40 and do so that, when the roller 56 is moved to its extended position, the support 66 is retracted into a position in which it engages the Cordage clamp 26, positioned against a stop 7%, and the clamping blocks 38-38 are moved into clamping position to prevent lateral movement of the mandrel.

As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the guide plate 55; is provided with a guide aperture 76', in the shape of a substantially inverted V extending from the lower end thereof, into which the cordage 12 automatically inserts itself when the cordageconstraining guide 55 is moved downwardly. The guide aperture 76 functions during the entire winding operation to guide the cordage 12 toward the mandrel The cordage 12 is forced to remain within the guide aperture 7'5 by a transversely extending finger '77. The Cordage 12 is prevented from arcing above a line tangent to the mandrel 2d by the traight top surface '78 of the inverted V-shaped aperture 76, which is locked against vertical movement by the cam 63. The vertical locking of the guide 55 by the cam 63 prevents the cordage 12 from winding on top of the previously wound convolutions 11-11 and constrains the successive convolu tions 11-11 to lie, generally, side by side. The top and side of the aperture 76 are preferably polished to prevent excessive friction and it is contemplated that, for this purpose, small antifriction rollers might be provided along the top and side of the aperture.

- If the cordage diameter and the degree of flattening of the Cordage 12 by the roller 5d were always constant, then a closely packed helix could be wound with a fixed guide, occupying the place of the guide 55, by regulating the longitudinal speed of the mandrel 20 to one cordage width, as flattened, for each revolution of the mandrel 26. However, certain slight variations in cordage dimeter and degree of flattening do occur, which variations make absolute control by speed regulation with a fixed guide diflicult or impossible. For example, if the cordage 12 is too thin or is insufliciently flattened, the turns 11-11 of the helix will not be closely packed; whereas, the cordage 12 is too thick or is overly flattened, then the turns 11-11 will tend to wind on top of each other.

To accommodate these variations, the guide plate 58 of the guide 55 is mounted for limited pivoting movement transversely of the cordage 12, as best seen in FIG. 8,

to facilitate the winding of the Cordage 12 in a closely packed helix. For these purposes, the guide plate 58 is mounted pivotably about a screw 81, which is carried by the bracket 54 on the rocker arm 64. A tension spring 82 is secured at its upper end to a pin 33 in the bracket 54, extends downwardly and is secured at the lower end of the spring 82 to a pin 34 secured on the guide plate 53 eccentrically thereof.

The normal winding position of the guide plate 58 is illustrated in FIG. 8, wherein the guide plate 58 assumes a vertical position under the influence of two counterbalancing forces: (1) the tension spring 82 urges the guide plate 58 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 8, about the screw 81; and (2) the cordage 12 being wound in closely packed helical turns 11-11 bears against the right-hand side of the guide aperture 76 and thus urges the guide plate 58 in a counterclockwise direction about the screw 81. The position of the guide plate 58, as shown in FIG. 8, is maintained as long as the cordage diameter and degree of flattening are normal, and are thus precisely correlated with the established gear ratios for the movement of the mandrel 219.

if the cordage 12 becomes abnormally thin or is underflattened by the roller 5'6, the force exerted by the cordage 12. on the right-hand side of the guide aperture 76 is diminished, and the tension spring $2 operates to pivot the guide plate 53 in a clockwise direction through theslight distance necessary to re-establish the dominating force of the winding cordage 12, in which position the cordage 12 is winding in closely packed turns 1111. If, on the other hand, the cordage 12 becomes abnormally thick or is over-flattened, the cordage cannot overlap the last turn 11 due to the locked vertical position of the guide 55 and will thus pivot the guide plate 58, against the action of the spring 32, in a counterclockwise direction about the screw 81 to the point where the cordage 12 Winds in closely packed turns 1111.

A pin 86 is secured to the guide plate 58 of the guide 55 and projects toward the arm 64. The pin 86 is designed to engage the lower surface of the end of the bracket 54 in order to limit the amount of pivoting movement of the guide plate 58 in the clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 8, by the spring 82 to an extent that the cordage 12 is positively precluded from jumping out of its constricted guide seat formed by the guide aperture 76 and the roller 56.

A second cordage guide, designated generally by the numeral 87 (FIGS. 2 and 5 is mounted generally to the left of the first guide 55, as viewed in FIG. 5. The second guide 87 is preferably mounted below the line of advancement of the cordage 12 on a substantially T-shaped guide rail 89 and has a guide aperture 88, preferably a U-shaped aperture extending from the top thereof, through which the cordange 12 advances. The generally similar but opposing guide apertures 76 and 83 of the two guides 55 and 87, respectively, are aligned so that the two guides cooperate to direct the advancing cordage 12 to the mandrel 20. The U-shaped guide aperture 88 formed in the guide 87 is restricted to fit closely about normaldiameter portions of the cordage 12 advancing therethrough to the mandrel 20. The sides of this aperture 88 should also be polished to reduce friction or antifriction rollers should be provided.

A tension spring 91 is designed to maintain the guide 87 in its first solid line position, as shown in FIG. 5, against the force of friction due to normal-diameter portions of the cordage 12 passing through the restricted guide aperture 88. However, when an irregular portion of the cordage 12, such as that provided by the stay-cord band 17 or the grommet 18 at the end of the particular section of cordage 12, approaches the guide 87, the irregular portion will engage and catch in the restricted guide aperture 88 so that further advancement of the cordage 12 by the rotating mandrel 20 will operate to slide the guide 37 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 5, against the action of the biasing tension spring 91 to the dotted, end-of-coiling position illustrated in FIG. 5. During this sliding movement, the guide 87 moves from its first position, along the line of advancement of the cordage 12, toward the first guide 55 and the mandrel 20 and confines the end of the cordage 12 until the coiling process has been completed.

Previous to the advancement through the guide 87, the cordage 12 is advanced between a pair of spaced rollers 92 and 93, of a strand-guiding and operation-terminating device, designated generally by the numeral 96, for guiding and tensioning the cordage 12 during a major portion of the coiling of cordage upon the coiling mandrel 20, for detecting irregular portions, i.e., enlarged portions or relatively hard portions of the cordage 12, such as the staycord band 17 or the grommet 13, adjacent to the ends thereof, and for interrupting the coiling operation as the trailing end of the cordage 12 is carried by the guide 87 and approaches the mandrel 20.

The strand-guiding and operation-terminating device 96 includes a frame 97 on which the two cooperating rollers 92 and 93, between which a cordage 12 passes as it is wound helically upon a rotating mandrel 20, are mounted. The roller 92 is mounted rotatably on a fixed shaft 98, whereas the roller 93 is mounted rotatably on a movable shaft 101 mounted on a bracket 99, which, in turn, is mounted pivotably on a shaft 103 secured to the frame 97. A compression spring 104 (FIG. 4) is positioned on a stud 105 secured pivotably to the bracket 99 by a bifurcated member 100 and a pin 102 (FIG. 5). The compression spring 104 functions to urge a free end of the bracket 99 away from the frame 97 to urge the roller 93 toward the roller 92 to pinch or grip the cordage 12 as the cordage is advanced therebetween. The normal amount of compression in the spring 104 may be adjusted by turning an externally threaded sleeve 95.

Preferably, the roller 92 is formed with a V-shaped annular groove 106, and the roller 93 is formed with a substantially flat periphery surface 107. An adjustable frictional drag element 108 is urged against the roller 92 to impose a predetermined, adjustable drag on the roller 92, which drag tensions the cordage 12 as the cordage being pinched by the rollers 92 and 93 is wound on the mandrel 20.

A substantially annular permanent magnet 111 is spaced normally a predetermined distance from a piece of magnetic material 112 encircling the stud secured to the bifurcated member 100. The magnetic material 112 is secured threadedly to the stud 105 and is positioned normally outside of the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet 111 a distance sufiiciently great so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material 112 by the magnet 111 are insufiicient to overcome the forces exerted on the roller 93 by the spring 104. The relative positions of the magnet 111 and the magnetic material 112 can be adjusted by turning the magnetic material on the stud 105' in the appropriate direction.

When an enlarged portion of the cordage 12 (ea. the metal stay-cord band 17 or the molded grommet 18) passes between the rollers 92 and 93, the roller 93 is forced away from the roller 92 and causes the pivoted shaft 101 to pivot in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, about the pin 103 against the action of the compression spring 104. As the distance between the magnetic material 112 and the magnet 111 is reduced, the forces exerted on the magnetic material 112 by the magnet 111 increase rapidly and overcome the forces exerted on the pivoted shaft 101 by the spring 104 to cause a snap action pivoting of the shaft 101 as the magnetic material 112 moves toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet 111 against the action of the spring 104. This snap action movement of the shaft 101 causes rapid separation of the rollers 92 and 93 a sufficient distance for the enlarged portion of the cordage 12 to move therebetween so that the rollers will not damage the relatively weak conductors 14-14 or bend the tips 16-16 on the ends of the conductors or pull the tips 16-16 therefrom.

A spherical deflector 114 is mounted rotatably on a pin 113 adjacent to the path of travel of the cordage 12 and in front of the V-shaped annular groove 106 in the stationary roller 92 for deflecting an S-hook 109 (FIG. 5) on the staycord band 17 from the annular groove 106. The spherical deflector 114 causes the S-hook 109 to be deflected so that the S-hook projects upwardly or downwardly from the cordage 12 thus preventing the rollers 92 and 93 from having to be separated a sufiicient distance to accommodate passage of the S-hook 109 therebetween in a horizontal plane.

The movement of the bracket 99, as the magnetic material 112 moves into engagement with the permanent magnet 111, operates a sensitive limit switch, designated generally by the numeral 116, and closes a normally open, end-of-coiling contact 115 which results in a clutch 117 being deenergized and a brake 119 being energized to stop the coiling operation. The actions of the clutch 117 and brake 119 are timed so that coiling operation is stopped after the guide 87 has been moved a predetermined distance toward the mandrel 2t) and the stay band 17 or grommet 18 is located a desired distance away from the mandrel 20 at the end of the coiling operation. Before the next helix winding operation of a subsequent length of cordage 12, the pivoted shaft 101 is restored to its sprees? 9 normal position by a plunger 118 (FIGS. 2 and 3) actuated by a solenoid 121.

As seen in FIG. 1, the rotary chuck 24 is mounted at one end of a shaft 120 for rotation therewith. The shaft 121) is journaled within hearings in a housing 122 and is keyed to a toothed driving pulley 123, mounted on the other side of the housing 122. The housing 122 is mounted on a reciprocable carriage, designated generally by the numeral 126, for sliding movement therewith, which sliding movement draws the rotating mandrel 20 from right to left, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, to enable winding of the cordage 12 in a helix thereon. During the winding operation, the mandrel 2t) slides partially out of and also rotates within the mandrel support 34. The carriage 126 as best seen in FIGS. and 7 includes generally a long, flat rectangular member 127 having a toothed rack 128 formed along a relatively long portion of the right side thereof. A T-shaped bar 131, generally coextensive in length with the carriage 126, is bolted to the under side thereof and is received for sliding movement along the length of a pair of stationary guide members 132-132. A pinion gear 133 (P16. 1) is keyed for rotation with a shaft 136 and is designed to mesh with the teeth of the rack 128 for reciprocating the carriage 126 and the elements secured thereto upon rotation of the shaft 136.

A drive motor 137, which is a constant-speed, unidirectional motor of any conventional type drives a toothed output pulley 133, which is keyed to a motor shaft 141. A toothed timing belt 142 passes around the output pulley 138, being driven thereby, and also around each of two secondary, toothed control pulleys 143 and 144 of different sizes, which may be selectively connected through appropriate clutches 117 and 145 to direct the coiling movement and the return movement of the mandrel 20,

respectively.

The larger, coil-controlling pulley 143 is keyed to a shaft 146, which forms one input shaft to a gear box, designated generally by the numeral 147. Gears within the gear box are not shown in detail; but are illustrated and described in detail in the above-mentioned E. C. Hardesty et al. patent, which discloses a coiling apparatus of which the apparatus of the present invention is an improvement thereover. The inputs to and outputs from the gear box 147 will be described and the linkages connecting the outputs from the gear box to the chuck-rotating pulley 1'23 and the carriage-reciprocating pinion 133. The first input shaft 146 is designed, upon energization of the clutch 117 within the gear box 147, to rotate the chuck 24 through a first gear-box output shaft 151 and simultaneously to reciprocate the carriage 126 from right to left as viewed in FIG. 1 through a second gearbox output shaft 152.

The smaller, return-controlling pulley 144 is keyed to a shaft 153, which forms a second input to the gear box 147 and is designed to drive the second output shaft 152 in the reverse direction, and preferably at a much higher rate of speed, to reciprocate the carriage 126 from left to right, as viewed in FIG. 1, from the after-coiling position of the chuck 24 to the mandrel-inserting position of the chuck.

The chuck 24 is rotated by the rotation of the first output shaft 151 through the intermission of the following elements: a toothed pulley 156 keyed to the shaft 151; a toothed belt 157 passing around the pulley 156; a toothed pulley 158, about which the belt 157 also passes; a square shaft 161 to which the pulley 158 is keyed; a toothed pulley 162 mounted for sliding movement along the square shaft 161 and for rotation therewith, the pulley 162 having a square, central aperture 163 for receiving the square shaft 161, the pulley 162 being slidable along the square shaft 161 under the influence of the movement of the carriage 126; and a toothed belt 166 passing about both the slidable pulley 162 and the earlier-mentioned,

toothed driving pulley 123, to which the chuck 24 is secured through the shaft keyed thereto.

The means for rotating the pinion gear 133 to reciprocate the carriage 126, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes, in sequence, the following intermediate elements: the second gear-box output shaft 152; a toothed pulley 168 keyed to the shaft 152; a toothed belt 171 passing around the pulley 168; a toothed pulley 172, about which the belt 171 also passes and which is driven thereby; a shaft 173 to which the pulley 172 is keyed; a pair of meshing bevel gears 174174 (FIG. 1) mounted within a gear box, designated generally by the numeral 176; and the upright shaft 136 connected to the carriage-reciprocating pinion 133.

With the arrangement shown, the first input shaft 146, extending from the coil-controlling input pulley 143, may be connected through the clutch 117, preferably an electromagnetic clutch. When the clutch 117 is energized, the clutch directs the coiling motion to rotate the chuck 24 and the mandrel 26 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, to Wind the cordage 12 passing over the top of the mandrel 2t) therearound, and causes the pulley 172 to rotate in a direction to drive the carriage 126 from right to left in FIG. 1.

The second input shaft 153, extending from the returncontrolling input pulley 144, may be connected by means of the electromagnetic clutch to direct the return motion of the carriage 126. When the clutch 117 is deenergized and the clutch 145 is energized, the pulley 168 and the pulley 172 are driven in a direction to reciprocate the carriage 126 back to its original position. The brake 119 which is connected to the shaft 153 is deenergized simultaneously with the energization of either of the clutches 117 or 145 to permit movement of the various shafts and pulleys and is energized to positively stop movement of the shafts and pulleys simultaneously with the deenergization of either of the clutches 117 or 145 upon completion of an operation.

Control Circuit and Operation The control circuit (FIG. 9) includes (in order of operation starting with the carriage 126 in its extremeright position, as viewed in FIG. 1) the switch 51 (FIGS. 1 and 9), has a closed upper contact 181 when the mandrel 20 is in place within the mandrel support 34 and a closed lower contact 182 when no mandrel is present; the limit switch 48 (FIG. 6), in which the normally open contact 49 is closed when the mandrelclamping blocks 3338 have been oscillated into their closed, mandrel-clamping positions by the assembly 46; the limit switch 116 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4), in which the normally open contact 115 is open when the pivotable roller 93 of the strand-guiding and operation-terminating device 96 has been moved to the closed position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, by the solenoid 121; and a limit switch 186 (FlGS. 1 and 9), in which a normally closed contact 187 is opened by an actuator when each cycle of operation has been completed and the carriage 126 has returned to its starting position at the extreme right in FIG. 1.

Also included in the electrical circuit are the solenoid valves 40 and 45 designed to control the pistons within the piston-cylinder assemblies 46, 61 and 71. Also included in the control circuit are the energization circuits r for the drive motor 137, the electromagnetic clutches 117 and 145, and the electromagnetic brake 119.

p A first control relay 191 is provided to initiate the coiling motion which, upon energization, closes a first contact 192 to energize the electromagnetic clutch 117 and simultaneously opens a second contact 193 to deenergize the electromagnetic brake 119. This reversal of connections functions to move the carriage 126 from right to left as viewed in FIG. 1 and to rotate the chuck 24 in order to wind the cordage 12 in a helix along the length of the mandrel 20.

A second control relay 196 is provided to initiate the return motion which, upon energization, closes a first contact 197 to energize the electromagnetic clutch 145 andsimultaneously opens a second contact 198 to deenergize the electromagnetic brake 119, which reversal of connections functions to return the carriage 126 from left to right, back to its original position.

The two-position selector switch 51 operates to select the proper one of the control relays 191 and 196 for operation. Whenthe mandrel 20 is present (so that coiling motion is desired), the upper contact 181 of the switch 51 is closed, which permits energization of the coil-controlling relay 191 and precludes-operation of the parallelly connected, return-controlling relay 196. When no mandrel 20 is present (so that return motion is desired), the lower contact 1820f the switch 51' is closed, which permits energization of only the return-controlling relay 196.

The coil-controlling relay 191 may be energized, assuming that the upper contact 1810f the selector switch 51' is closed, indicating th'at a mandrel 20 is in place,

provided that the contact 49of theswitch 48 is closed: signifying that the mandrel-clamping blocks 3833ar'e 196 may be energized, assuming'that the lower contact 1820f the selector switch51- is closed indicating the absence of a mandrel 20, provided that the contact 187' of th'eswitch 186 is closed (its normal position)signifying that'the-carriage 126 is not already in its extreme rightward position.

A pair of power-supply switches 201-201 are'provided, a'firstof which connects the motor 137 across a first air of power-supply conductors 202202. The seco'nd'power-supply contact 201 connects the control circuit across a' second' pair of power-supply conductors 2'03203; As seen, the motor 137' runs continuously a'nd'is selectively connected,.through alternate energize.- tion of the clutches 117 and 145, to drivethe carriage 126 first in the coiling direction and'then in the return direction during each 'cycle of operation;

After a lead end of a straight length of cordage 12 to be wound has'beensecure'd to a mandrel 20'as seen in FIGS; 1 and assuming that'the power-sup'ply'switch'es 201-201 have been closed manually so that the motor 137 is'running, the'operating cycle is initiated'by the closing of a starting, push-button switch 204 to close'a normally "open contact 205 to energize the solenoid 121 to open the contact 115 of the switch 116 andmove the roller 93 to its normal operatingp'osition. The pushbutton 204 is'released and a second 'starting, push-button 206 is'' pushed to complete a circuit, through a normally closed'contact 21301 a now"deen'ergized relay 214, and anormally closed contact 216of'the now deenergized, coil-controlling relay 191'to energize the solenoid'va'lve 40, which operates to supply fluid from a source, not' the contact-205 to open and deenergizes'the solenoid 121 to permit the movable roller 93 to be moved subsequently away from the stationary'roller 92 by an enlarged portion of the cordage 12. Closure of the contact 490i the switch 48 causes the coil-controlling, relay 191 to be energized, throughthe now-closed contacts 181, 213and 49. The coil-controlling relay 191 opens its normally closed contact 193 to release the electromagnetic brake 119 and closes its normally open contact 192 toenergize the electromagnetic clutch 117. Upon energizationof'the' clutch 117, thecoiling operation proceeds at the desired rate; The chuck 24 is rotatedto rotate the mandrel and at the sametime the carriage 126 is moved from right to left (FIG. 1) in predetermined syn'chronism with the speed of rotation of the mandrel to wind the cordage 12 on the mandrel 20, generally, in a plurality of even, closely packed helical convolutions 1111. The advancing cordage 12 is guided as it approaches the mandrel 20 by the cordage guide 55 to constrain the cordage 12 to wind in closely packed convolutions.

When the Cordage 12 is almost fully coiled on the mandrel 20, the stay-cord band 17 or grommet 18 near the end of the eordage 12 urges the movable roller 93 away from the fixed roller 92 and engages the restricted aperture 88 of the guide 37, which causes the guide 87 to slide from the coiling position shown in solid lines in FIG. 5 to the end position illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 5. When the movable roller 93 is moved away from the fixed roller 92 an actuator 220 of the switch 116 is moved, thus closing the contact of that switch. Upon closure of the contact 115, the relay'214 (which may be considered as the end-of-coiling relay) is energized and opens its normally closed contact 213 to deenergize the coil-controlling relay 1911. Upon deenergization of the relay 191, the contact 193 is reclosed to apply the brake 119 to stop the coiling motion and the contact 192 is reopened to deenergize the clutch 117. The end'ofcoiling relay 214 also closes the normally open contact 216, which energizes the solenoid 45 to apply fluid to the opposite side of the cylinders of the assemblies 4-6, 61 and 71" to retract the roller 56, pivot the guide 55 upwardly, extend the support'6'6 andoscillate the clamping blocks 38 38 upwardly to enable removal of the wound mandrel'20 from the apparatus. I

The push button switch 286 is released and the trailing e'ndof'the cordage 12 is clamped to the mandrel 20 with the cordage clamp 26 (FIG; 2) and mandrel 20 is next removed from the chuck 24 and mandrel support 34, which removal operates to open the upper contact 181 and close the lower contact 182 of the selector switch 51 tofacilitate' operation of the return-controlling relay 196. The starting push-button switch 206' is then closed again and, because the lower contact 182 of the switch 51' is now closed (mandrel absent), the return-controlling relay 196'is now energized't'n'rough the now-closed switch 206, the now-closed contact 182, and the normally closed contact'187 of'the switch 186.

The relay 196 closes its contact 197 and opens its contact 198 to energize the clutch and deenergize the brake 119, respectively. The energization of the clutch 145 connects the shaft 153 to the shaft 173 to reciprocate the carriage 126 back to its original position at a relatively high rate of speed.

When the carriage 126 has returned to its original position, the normally closed contact 187 of the limit switch 186 is opened by the actuator (FIG. 1), which opens the energization circuit for the control relay 196 to disconnect the clutch 145 and reapply the brake 119 to stop the carriage 126 in its mandrel-inserting position. The apparatus has now completed one full cycle of operation and a succeeding mandrel 20 may now be inserted into the the mandrel support 34 and connected to the chuck 24 to start a succeeding cycle of operation.

It will be manifest that this invention is not limited to the specific details described in connection with the above embodiment of the invention, but that other modifications may be made by those'skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A strand-guiding and operation-terminating device for guiding successive portions of a length of strand material passing therethrough, for detecting an irregular portion of the'strand material and for interrupting a strandhandling-operation at a predetermined time subsequently, which comprises means for moving successive portions of a length of strand material, a frame, a first guide mounted on said frame, a second guide mounted adjacent to and a predetermined distanm from the first guide for relative movement with respectthereto, the normal spacing between the guides being less than the maximum outer dimension of an irregular portion of the strand material, means for normally urging the guides toward each other, a magnet, magnetic material secured operatively to a movable one of said guides and positioned adjacent to the magnet, the magnetic material being positioned normally outside of the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet a distance sufiiciently great so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet are insufiicient to overcome the forces exerted thereon by the urging means, the movable one of said guides being moved from the normal position thereof by the irregular portion of the strand material moving between the guides causing the spacing between the magnet and the magnetic material to become sufiiciently small so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet overcome the forces exerted on the movable guide by the urging means to cause a snap action movement of the movable guide as the magnetic material is moved toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet against the action of the urging means for rapidly separating the guides a sutlicient distance to permit the irregular portion of the strand to move therebetween, and means for stopping the operation of the means for advancing successive portions of the strand material between the guides in response to a predetermined amount of movement of the magnetic material toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet.

2. A strand-guiding and operation-terminating device for guiding successive portions of a length of strand materialpassing therethrough, for detecting a relatively hard portion of the strand material and for interrupting a strand-handling operation at a predetermined time subsequently, which comprises means for moving successive portions of a length of strand material, a frame, a first guide mounted on said frame, a second guide mounted adjacent to and a predetermined distance from the first guide for relative movement with respect thereto, the normal spacing between the guides being less than the maximum outer dimension of a relatively hard portion of the strand material and less than the minimum diameter of the strand material, means for normally urging the guides toward each other to compress the strand material, a magnet, magnetic material secured operatively to a movable one of said guides and positioned adjacent to the magnet, the magnetic material being positioned normally outside of the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet a, distance sufficiently great so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet are insufficient to overcome the forces exerted thereon by the urging means, the movable one of said guides being moved from the normal position thereof by the relatively hard portionof the strand material moving between the guides causing the spacing between the magnet and the magnetic material to become sufficiently small so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet overcome the forces exerted on the movable guide by the urging means to cause a snap action movement of the movable guide as the magnetic material is moved toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet against the action of the urging means for rapidly separating the guides a sufiicient distance to permit the relatively hard portion of the strand to move therebetween, and means for, stopping the operation of the means for advancing successive portions of the strand material between the guides in response to a predetermined amount of movement of the magnetic material toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet.

3. A strand-guiding and operation-terminating device for guiding and tensioning a tipped and banded length of cordage being wound upon a rotating coiling mandrel, detecting an enlarged portion of the cordage adjacent to the trailing end of the cordage and for interrupting the coiling operation as the trailing end approaches the mandrel, which comprises a rotatable coil-winding mandrel, means for rotating the mandrel and moving the mandrel longitudinally to wind cordage thereon, a fixed shaft, a stationary roller mounted rotatably on the fixed' shaft, a pivotably mounted shaft positioned adjacent to and a predetermined distance from the fixed shaft, a movable roller mounted rotatably on the pivotably mounted shaft, the normal spacing of the rollers being less than the maximum outer diameter of an enlarged portion of the cordage, resilient means for normally urging the movable roller toward the fixed roller to tension the cordage being drawn therebetween by the coil-winding mandrel, a magnet positioned adjacent to the movable shaft, magnetic material secured to said pivotable shaft and positioned adjacent to the magnet, the magnetic mate rial on the pivotable shaft being positioned normally outside of the point of maximum field intensity of the mag net a distance sufficiently great so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet are insufiicient to overcome the forces exerted by the resilient means, the shaft being moved from the normal position by the enlarged portion of the cordage passing between the rollers causing the spacing between the magnet and the magnetic material to become sumciently small so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet overcome the forces exerted on the movable roller by the resilient means to cause a snap action pivoting of the pivotably mounted shaft as the magnetic material is moved toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet against the action of the resilient means for rapidly separating the rollers a sufficient'distance to permit the enlarged portion of the cordage to move therebetween, and to prevent damage to tipped conductors projecting from the end of the cordage, means for stopping the mandrel in response to a predetermined amount of movement of the magnetic material toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet, a bifurcated guide through which the cord is passed for tensioning and holding the end of the cordage during the latter portion of the coiling operation, and means for resetting the pivotally mounted shaft to its normal operating position.

4. A strand-guiding. and operation-terminating device for guiding successive portions of a length of strand material passing therethrough, for detecting an irregular portion of the strand material and for interrupting a strand-handling operation at a predetermined time subsequently, which comprises means for moving successive portions of a length of strand material, a frame, a first rotatable guide mounted on said frame, a second rotatable guide mounted adjacent to and a predetermined distance from the first rotatable guide for relative movement with respect thereto, the normal spacing between the rotatable guides being less than the maximum outer dimension of an irregular portion of the strand material, means for normally urging the rotatable guides toward each other, a magnet, magnetic material secured operatively to a movable one of said rotatable guides and positioned adjacent to the magnet, the magnetic material being positioned normally outside of the point of maximum field intensity ofthe magnet a distance sufficiently great so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet are insufficient to overcome the forces exerted thereon by the urging means, means for adjusting the normal spacing between the magnetic material and the magnet, the movable one of said rotatable guides being moved from the normal position thereof by the irregular portion of the strand material moving between the guides causing the spacing between the magnet and the magnetic material to become sufficiently small so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet overcome the forces exerted on the movable guide by the urging means to cause a snap action movement of the movable guide as the magnetic material is moved toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet against the action of the urging means for rapidly separating the guides a sufficient distance to permit the irregular portion of the strand material to move therebetween, and means for stopping the operation of the means for advancing successive portions of the strand material between the guides in response to a predetermined amount of movement of the magnetic material toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet.

5. A strand-guiding and operation-terminating device for guIding successive portions of a length of strand material passing therethrough, for detecting an irregular portion of the strand material and for interrupting a strandhandling operation at a predetermined time subsequently, which comprises means for moving successive portions of a length of strand material, a frame, a first rotatable guide mounted on said frame, a second rotatable guide mounted adjacent to and a predetermined distance from the first rotatable guide for relative movement with respect thereto, the normal spasing between the rotatable guides being less than the max'mum outer dimension of an irregular portion of the strand material, means for normally urging the rotatable guides toward each other, adjustable means for resisting the rotation of the rotatable guide means by the strand material passing between the guides to maintain a predetermined tension in the strand material, a magnet, magnetic material secured operatively to a movable one of said rotatable guides and positioned adjacent to the magnet, the magnetic mate'ial being positioned no mally outside of the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet a distance sufiiciently great so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet are insufficient to overcome the forces exerted thereon by the urging means. the movable one of said rotatable guides being moved from the normal position thereof by the irregular portion of the strand material moving between the guides causing the spacing between the magnet and the magnetic material to become sufficiently small so that the forces exerted on the m"gnetic mater'al by the magnet overcome the forces exerted on the movable guide by the urging means to cause a snap action movement of the movab'e guide as the magnetic material is moved toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet against the action of the urging means for rapidly separating the guides a suflicient distance to permit the irregular portion of the strand material to move there between, and means for stopping the operation of the means for advancing successive portions of the strand material between the guides in response to a predetemined amount of movement of the magnetic material toward the point of maximum field in'ensity of the magnet.

6. A strand-guid'ng and operation-terminating device for guiding and tensioning a tipped and handed length of corda'ge being wound upon a rotating coiling mandrel, detecting an enlarged S-hook on a stay-cord band on the cordage adjacent to the trailing end of the cordage and for interrupting the coiling Operation as the trailing end of the cordage approaches the mandrel, which comprises a rotatable coil-wind'ng mandzel, means for rotting the mandrel and for moving the mandrel longitudinally, a fixed shaft, an annularly grooved stationary roller mounted rotatably on the fixed shaft, the groove forming a guide for banded cordage being wound on the mandrel, a spherical deflector mounted roatably adjacent to the path of travel of the Cordage and in front of t' e annular groove of the stationary roller for deflecting the S-hook on the stay-cord band from the annular groove, a pivotably mounted shaft positioned adjacent to and a predetemined distance from the fixed shaft, a movable roller mounted rotatably on the pivotably mounted shaft, resilient means for normally urging the movable roller toward the fixed roller to compress the cordage being drawn therebetween by the coil-winding mandrel, a magnet positioned adjacent to the moveable shaft, magnetic material secured to said pivotable shaft and positioned adjacent to the magnet, the magnetic material on the pivotable shaft being positioned normally outside of the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet a distance sufficiently great so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet are insuflicient to overcome the forces exerted by the resilient means, the shaft being moved from a normal position by an enlarged portion of the cord-age passing between the rollers causing the spacing between the magnet and the magnetic material to become sufiiciently small so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet overcome the forces exerted on the pivotable shaft by the resilient means to cause a snap action pivoting of the pivotably mounted shaft as the magnetic material is moved toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet against the action of the resilient means for rapidly separating the rollers a sufficient distance to permit the enlarged portion of the cordage to move therebetween and to prevent damage to tipped conductors projecting from the end of the cordage, and means for stopping the mandrel in response to a predetermined amount of movement of the magnetic mater'al toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet.

7. A strand-guiding and operation-terminating device for guiding successive portions of a length of strand material passing therethrough, for detecting an irregular portion of the strand material and for interrupting a strandhandling operation at a predetermined time subsequently, which comprises a winding mandrel for coiling successive portion; of a length of strand material, a frame, a first guide mounted on said frame, a second guide mounted adjacent to and a predetermined distance from the first guide for relative movement with respect thereto, the normal spafing between the gu'des being less than the maximum outer dimension of an irregular portion of the strand mater'al, means for normally urging the guides toward each other to compress the strand material, a magnet, magnetic material secured operatively to a movable one of said guides and positioned adjacent to the magnet, the magnetic material being positioned normally outside of the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet a distance sufiiciently great so that the forces e erted on the magnetic material by the magnet are insuflicient to overcome the forces exerted thereon by the urging means, the movable one of said guides being moved from the normal position thereof by the irregular portion of the strand material moving between the guides causing the spacing b tween the magnet and the magnetic material to become sulficien'ly small so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet overcome the forces exerted on the movable guide by the urging means to cause a snap action movement of the movable guide as the magnetic material is moved toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet against the action of the urging means for rapidly separating the guides a sufficient distance to permit the irregular portion of the strand material to move therebetween without damaging the irregular portion of the strand material, a bifurcated strand guide having a restricted guide aperture designed to fit closely about normal-diameter portions of the strand advancing therethrough to the winding mandrel, said strand guide being mounted for movement towa"d and away from the mandrel substantially along the line of advancement of the strand. means for biasing said strand guide to a first position spaced a first distance from the mandrel, said biasing means being designed to maintain said strand guide in its first position against the force of friction due to normaldiameter portions of the strand passing through the guide aperture, the irregular portion of the strand being provided at a point therealong where it is desired to terminate the strand-handling operation, the irregular portion of the advancing strand engaging and catching in the restricted aperture of said guide so that further advancement of the strand is designed to move said guide toward 17 the mandr'el a'gainst the action of 'said-biasing means; and means for stopping the coiling operation in response to'apredetermined amount, of movement; of the magnetic material toward the point,ofmaximunrfieldintensity of the magnet. v

8'. strand-guiding-and operation-terminating device for guiding. successive portions -of-a length of strand material passing therethrough, for detecting" an irregular portionof the; strand material and for inzerruptingastrandhandling operation at a predetermined time subsequently, which comprises a winding mandrel for ccilingsuccessive portions of a lengthof-strand' material, a frame, a first guide mounted on said frame, a second guide mounted adjacent to and a p edetermined dis ance from the first guide for relative movement with respect thereto, the normal spacing between the guides being less than the maximum outer dimension of an irregular portion of the strand material, means for normally urging the guides toward each other to compress the strand material, a strandconstraining guide having a guide aperture for directing the strand toward the mand.el, said strand-constraining guide being pivotable in a plane generally transverse to the line of advancement of the strand, a tension spring for bias ng said strand-constraining guide in the direction of the helix being wound on the mandrel, the wall of the guide aperture bearing on the advancing strand on the side opposite to the helix being wound on the mandrel, so that the guide may be moved by the preponderating one of the forces exerted by the tension spring and the strand, respectively, to assume a position where the strand is wound in closely pazked helical convolutions on the mandrel, a transversely projecting portion of the strandconstraining guide to engage the advancing strand and force the strand to be retained within the guide aperture, means for limiting the pivoting movement of the lastmentioned strand guide so that the strand is prevented from jumping out of the guide aperture and prevented from piling up on the mandrel, a magnet, magnetic material secured operatively to a movable one of said guides and positioned adjacent to the magnet, the magnetic material being positioned normally outside of the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet a distance sufficiently great so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet are insutficient to overcome the forces exerted thereon by the urging means, the movable one of said guides being moved from the normal position thereof by the irregular portion of the strand material moving between the guides causing the spacing between the magnet and the magnetic material to become sufiiciently small so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet overcome the forces exerted on the movable guide by the urging means to cause a snap action movement of the movable guide as the magnetic material is moved toward the point of maximum fieldintensity of the magnet against the action of the urging means for rapidly separating the guides a suflicient distance to permit the irregular portion of the strand material to move therebetween without damaging the irregular portion of the strand material, and means for stopping the coiling operation in response to a predetermined amount of movement of the magnetic material toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet.

9. A strand-guiding and operation-terminating device for guiding successive portions of a length of strand material passing therethrough, for detecting an irregular portion of the strand material and for interrupting a strand-handling operation at a predetermined time subsequently, which comprises a winding mandrel for coiling successive portions of a length of strand material, a frame, a first guide mounted on said frame, a second guide mounted adjacent to anda predetermined distance from the first guide for relative movement with respect thereto, the normal spacing between the guides being less than the maximum outer dimension of an irregular portion of the strand material, means for normally urging the guides toward each other to compress =the-strand material, a-reciprocable roller mounted for rotation aboutan axisparaLel to the mandrel and positioned so'that the periphery of the roller engages compressively eachi strand convolution as thestrand is wound on the mandrel to smoohand compress the strand being wound into uniform tight helixes about the mandrel, a strand clamp mounted slidably-on the mandrel for normal relative movementwith respect thereto, reciprocable means for retaining the strand clampin a predetermined position on the mandrel relative to said roller for-preventing excessive deforma tion of the mandrel as'aresult of forces exerted thereon by the roller and strand being wound thereon and for damping out vibrations in an unsupported span of the mandrel, a magnet, magnetic material secured operatively to a movable one of said guides and positioned adjacent to the magnet, the magnetic material being positioned normally outside of the point of maximum fieldintensity of the magnet a distance sufiicien'ly great so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet are insutficient to overcome the forces exerted thereon by the urging means, the movable one of said guides being moved from the normal position thereof by the irregular portion of the strand material moving between the guides causing the spacing between the magnet and the magnetic material to become suificiently small so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet overcome the forces exerted on the movable guide by the urging means to cause a snap action movement of the movable guide as the magnetic material is moved toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet against the action of the urging means for rapidly separating the guides a suifieient distance to permit the irregular portion of the strand material to move therebetween without damaging the irregular portion of the strand material, and means for stopping the coiling operation in response to a predetermncd amount of movement of the magnetic material toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet.

10. A strand-guiding and operation-terminating device for guiding successive portions of a length of tipped and banded cordage passing therethrough, for detecting an irregular portion of the cordage and for interrupting a cordage coiling operation at a predetermined time subsequently, which comprises a rotatable and longitudinally movable mandrel for coiling a length of tipped and banded cordage into helical coils, a rotary chuck into which one end of the mandrel is placed, a block projecting from the chuck around which tipped ends of conductors protruding from a jacket of the cordage are wrapped, a tapered tab projecting from the block under which the end of the jacket from which the tipped ends of the conductors protrude is bent and placed so that the end of the jacket is urged resiliently against the tapered tab, the tipped ends of the conductors wrapped around the block being placed over the top of the jacket and under the tab so that the end of the jacket forms a stop to prevent the tipped conductors from moving between the end of the jacket and the tab and coming loose from the chuck, a frame, a first guide mounted on said frame, a second guide mounted adjacent to and a predetermined distance from the first guide for relative movement with respect thereto, the normal spacing between the guides being less than the maximum outer dimension of an irregular portion of the coradge, means for normally urging the guides toward each other, a magnet, magnetic material secured operatively to a movable one of said guides and positioned adjacent to the magnet, the magnetic material being positioned normally outside of the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet a distance sufliciently great so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet are insuificient to overcome the forces exerted thereon by the urging means, the movable one of said guides being moved from the normal position thereof by the irregular portion of the cordage moving between the guides causing the spacing between the magnet and the magnetic material to become sufiiciently small so that the forces exerted on the magnetic material by the magnet overcome the forces exerted on the movable guide by the urging means to cause a snap action movement of the movable guide as the magnetic material is moved toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet against the action of the urging means for rapidly separating the guides 21 sufficient distance to permit the irregular portion of the cordage to move therebetween, and means for stopping the coiling operation in response to a predetermined 2' amount of movement of the magnetic material toward the point of maximum field intensity of the magnet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 225,039 Alioth Mar. 2, 1880 2,565,465 Ames Aug. 28, 1951 2,881,982 Miller Apr. 14, 1959 2,898,630 Adams Aug. 11, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 711,688 Great Britain July 7, 1954 

1. A STRAND-GUIDING AND OPERATION-TERMINATING DEVICE FOR GUIDING SUCCESSIVE PORTIONS OF A LENGTH OF STRAND MATERIAL PASSING THERETHROUGH, FOR DETECTING AN IRREGULAR PORTION OF THE STRAND MATERIAL AND FOR INTERRUPTING A STRANDHANDLING OPERATION AT A PREDETERMINED TIME SUBSEQUENTLY, WHICH COMPRISES MEANS FOR MOVING SUCCESSIVE PORTIONS OF A LENGTH OF STRAND MATERIAL, A FRAME, A FIRST GUIDE MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, A SECOND GUIDE MOUNTED ADJACENT TO AND A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM THE FIRST GUIDE FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO, THE NORMAL SPACING BETWEEN THE GUIDES BEING LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM OUTER DIMENSION OF AN IRREGULAR PORTION OF THE STRAND MATERIAL, MEANS FOR NORMALLY URGING THE GUIDES TOWARD EACH OTHER, A MAGNET, MAGNETIC MATERIAL SECURED OPERATIVELY TO A MOVABLE ONE OF SAID GUIDES AND POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE MAGNET, THE MAGNETIC MATERIAL BEING POSITIONED NORMALLY OUTSIDE OF THE POINT OF MAXIMUM FIELD INTENSITY OF THE MAGNET A DISTANCE SUFFICIENTLY GREAT SO THAT THE FORCES EXERTED ON THE MAGNETIC MATERIAL BY THE MAGNET ARE INSUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE FORCES EXERTED THEREON BY THE 